Records of Women in Gynaecology & Obstetrics (WIGO)

The archive consists of minutes (1982-1996), correspondence, policy papers, campaigning material, training programmes, conference papers (1991-1997) and published articles (1985-1997).

Women in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (WIGO) (1982-c. 1997) was formed in 1982, the founder members being Janet Boulton, Janet Duke, Greta Forster, Katy Frith, Ann Musson, Fran Reader, Wendy Savage, Shirley Steel and June Swinhoe. The first meeting of Women in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (WIGO) was held 18 Dec 1982 in response to a call from the Women in Medicine organisation to establish specific groups for specific branches of medicine. Membership was open to all women obstetricians with part 1 MRCOG, MRCOG or FRCOG and women planning to move into other specialities, such as genito-urinary medicine, family planning or community health were eligible as long as they were members of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Its initial stated aims were: to provide support for junior doctors with family commitments who were training in Gynaecology and Obstetrics; to provide a careers advisory service for women planning to enter the specialty; to provide support for women trainees from overseas; and to increase the numbers of women involved in decision-making at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Officers of the society were comprised of a secretary, a treasurer and a co-ordinator who would also act as a press relations officer. By 1990 membership of WIGO reached over 50, while the papers of meetings in 1995 suggest that around 70 women were members. The group finally folded c.1997 because of lack of support.

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

Deposited by the organisation in 1992.

The Women's Library Catalogue